Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Plaistow vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Plaistow | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
7,861Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.